Closure for containers and the like



pr L. A. SAMSTAG 1,955,835

' CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS AND THE LIIKE Filed Dec. 2, 1955 WW' :1 -44 .L'fz

6 BY/i-y ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 24, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The object of the present invention is to provide a closure adapted for general use and particularly for containers, as, for example, cigarette and vanity cases, the closure comprising uni-motional members which are separate unconnected units, requiring no mutual attachment.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of anembodiment oi the invention in open position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section on the line 4-4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the container in closed position.

In the embodiment, the main body of the structure comprises a tray-like member 1 formed of a sheet of metal having its end margins turned upwardly and thence downwardly in reverse curvature, and the two ends being welded or otherwise secured to the main body portion of the tray. The tray is completed by the securing thereto at each side, as by welding, a longitudinally extending plate 2 having top and bottom raceways for a series of balls 3, and adjacent each raceway is a supporting and guiding ledge 5 foran end of each of the closure members. A closure member of. suitable form comprises a small tube 4, flattened at its ends in any suitable manner as indicated at 4.1:, the flattened ends resting upon the said supporting and guiding ledges 5, as indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 5.

Each side plate 2 has applied thereto by riveting or other connection, a flanged cap 6. The flanges of the cap are spaced from ledges 5 a. distance equivalent to the thickness of the flattened tube ends 4.1: so as to permit the movement of the tubes, and, at the same time, prevent their rotation.

' When the case is in open position as indicated in Fig. 1, the tubes laterally bounding the entrance to the tray 1 are spaced from each other a desired distance equivalent to the opening desired; being held in said spaced relationship by the balls 3 which are confined to the area of said spacing as shown more particularly in Fig. 2.

Should, therefore, movement be given to any of' the tubes at one side of the opening in a direction toward the tube spaced therefrom, pressure will be imposed upon the intermediate two sets of balls, which will transmit pressure to the entire assembly and cause its bodily movement. When said movement is continued, the tubes lying at the base of the structure will be moved to the top of the structure until the opening'at the top of '6 the tray is entirely closed, as will be understood without further explanation.

While I have shown a series of balls as the flexible connecting members intermediate the spaced ends of the tube assembly, any other flexible pressure connecting units may be employed. For example, the so-called snake chain consisting of links so formed and connected that it is laterally flexible but rigid when confined against lateral movement, is entirely operative in the structure as substitute for the balls.

The invention enables the use of tubes, rods or bars, comprising in assembly the closure memher, without the necessity of mutually uniting them, as by cementing them to canvas, or the use of binge members. Thus closure rods, or bars, of any suitable material, as for "example, glass, may be employed although I prefer the use of metal rods or tubes. Due to the lack of positive connection between the closure members, they are of inexpensive construction and may be assembled with ease. It will also 'be borne in mind that while I prefer that the tubes or bars of the closure assembly be held against rotation, as by flattening the ends thereof, this is not an essential.

It is unnecessary that the closure bars be of uniform thickness or diameter fromend to end inasmuch as one raceway may be of greater size than the opposite raceway, and closure members may be of gradually decreasing diameter or width. in order to conformtherewith. The flattened tube ends 42: may be formed with shoulders extending at right angles to the tube, as shown at a, Fig. 5. In such case each shoulder may 95 directly abut the adjacent edge of flange cap' 6 so that the flange caps afiord end guides for the closure members.

It will be understood that various modifications I may be made in the form and arrangement of 100 the elements illustrated in the drawing without departing from the spirit of the invention. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A closure comprising opposed side members, raceways provided at said side members, a plurality of shaft-like, elements held in said raceways, the end elements of the assembly of shaft-like elements being mutually spaced to provide an opening, and pressure transmitting members held in the raceways intermediate said end elements of the closure whereby movement of the shaft-like elements at one end of the assemblywill act upon the pressure transmitting members to transmit said movement to the opposite end of said assembly.

2. A closure for containers or the like comprising a support having opposed side members, raceways provided at said side members, a plurality of shaft-like elements held in said raceways, the end elements of the assembly of shaft-like elements being mutually spaced to provide an opening for access to the interior of the container,

4. A closure for containers comprising a traylike body having rounded ends, a continuous raceway provided at each side of said body, a plurality of shaft-like elements held in said raceways and adapted in assembly as a closure for the body, the end elements of the assembly of shaft-like members being mutually spaced to provide an opening for access to the interior of the container, and pressure transmitting members held in the raceways intermediate said end elements of the closure and adapted to move from one face of the container to positions below said face.

5. A closure for containers constructed in accordance with claim 2 in which the shaft-like members are formed with flattened ends for entrance into said raceways.

6. A closure for containers constructed in accordance with claim 2 in which the shaft-like elements comprise tubes mounted independently in the raceways.

LOUIS A. SAMSTAGv 

